Game Of Thrones Season 6 Details

Game of Thrones season six won’t air until next Spring, but production is already starting on the next chapter (which may not, after all, be the penultimate season). It’s looking to be one of the most exciting seasons, based on where we are with the book series — or the most devastating, if one death is to be really real (don’t let go). Here are a few details — including new cast members! — that we already know and what we can start looking forward to!

We’ll Be Back in Dorne . . . Plus Other New Places

Season five’s scenes in Dorne were shot in Spain, and it’s sounding like we are going to go back and go to more new locations. Variety reported earlier this month that more locations in Spain have been added for the season six production. Those locations include the Bardenas badlands in Navarre, the castles of Santa Florentina and Zafra, Almeria‘s Alcazaba, Girona, and Peñiscola.

A New Sorceress Is Coming

We have an idea of at least one new character coming, thanks to a leaked audition tapethat revealed another red priestess, similar to Melisandre.

This Is the First Time the Show’s Story Will Precede the Books

Book readers have always been ahead of the game when it came to the story unfolding on screen, but season six will shake that up. With George R. R. Martin still trying to finish the sixth book in the A Song of Fire and Ice series, The Winds of Winter (which would roughly correspond to the sixth season), the showrunners don’t have the blueprint of the books to follow. During the show’s Comic-Con panel, showrunner Carolyn Strauss commented that writers were talking to Martin “as much as they have before,” but now, everyone watching season six will be getting the story for the first time together.

Jon Snow’s Fate Is Way Up in the Air

Jon Snow’s death is the least-accepted news in our world, but it remains to be seen whether it’s so wishy-washy in the Seven Kingdoms. The show’s stars like Maisie Williams and Emilia Clarke have commented on his fate — ranging from “50/50” to total pessimism — and we don’t know what to believe. We have some theories for how he could return, but at this point, this one is mostly a hope that Jon Snow will still figure into season six.

In Fact, Everyone’s Fate Is Really Up in The Air

The season five finale has a lot of action in it (Stannis is dead! Sansa and Theon are on the run!) and many of the characters are in new territory. “Grandma ain’t around to look after her anymore,” Natalie Dormer said, talking about her character, at the Comic-Con panel. “All of the characters are in a situation where they don’t know how to play their next move. I think she’s in trouble.” Meanwhile, Carice van Houten commented that last season her character (Melisandre) realized she’s wrong about Stannis last season, and now she’s a bit lost

Arya Is Definitely Blind

Arya’s sight has been taken from her, and now she’ll need to cope with having an entirely new and difficult challenge. At the show’s Comic-Con panel, Maisie Williams commented on how thick and uncomfortable her contacts are, but she’ll have to wear them a lot coming up. She also mentioned she would be going through “physicality training” on what it’s like to be blind, so expect for a lot about her character to be altered.

Bran Is Coming Back!

There’s not even a glimpse of Bran in the fifth season of Game of Thrones, but Isaac Hempstead Wright confirmed his character will definitely be back for season six. “I can’t say a lot but I am back this season, and it’s going to get particularly interesting with Bran,”he told the Irish Examiner. “He has some interesting visions.”

The Three-Eyed Raven Will Return

Here’s another bit for Bran’s storyline: the Three-Eyed Raven will return to season six, and Oscar nominee Max von Sydow will play him. Previously, the role was played by Struan Rodger in season four.

Ian McShane Is Joining the CastDeadwood

star Ian McShane has joined the season six cast, but in a mystery role. There area lot of ideas out there for who he might play, but all we can do is speculate right now.

Euron Greyjoy Has Been Cast

Danish actor Pilou Asbaek has been cast as Euron Greyjoy, uncle to Theon and Yara.